The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-02-16
A PLEA FOR THE POOR,
BY ONE WHO HAS TO DEAL WITH
THEN,
And Whs Knows Whereof He
Speaks-"Man's Inhumanity to
Man Makes Countless Thou.
SANDS Mourn" uv
To the Editors Of the Appeal.


More significant TO us than the
prospect OF war in Europe or the
Canadian fishery troubles is the com.
plant and the desperate efforts OF the
labcriDg classes. 1t is not always a
cry Of honest poverty, but possibly the
majority OF those who are actually suf.
fering in mind and body are go busy
trying 10 get scanty living that they
have no time TO attend meetings or
take part in strikes. 1t is indeed to be
hoped that after the miserable failure
OF one sttike after another, leaving
thousands of men hopelessly and
helplessly idle, a, recently in Chicago
and New York, the men who complain
OF oppression and wrong on the part
OF employers will also be convinced of
the FOLLY of giving up their manhood
under oath TO obey the dictates OF a
despot called "Grand Master" The
right and privilege Of personal con-
tract between man and mantle exer-
else OF personal judgment by men ss
to whether they will work or not work
for the wages offered all are taken
away. Worse still, a man must
"join or die" no matter how much
his own views are opposed
to swearing allegiance to an
organization which he does not be.
lieve in, or care to be ruled by.
What other solution OF the labor
question can there bs than the dictates
Of common sense and Christian obi
CATION.
Laborers have a right to a fair and
Just compensation for toll, but en-
ployers who furnish the work which
brings the wages have iights, and the
interests of both are insepsrSbe.
There are many men on both sides
who recogn ze this fact. Arbitration,
mutual discussion, and patient trial Of
each case ON it's merits, would surely
bring a wonderful change for the bat
ter. AS the case now stands, the
spirit OF hostility and mutual selfish
nees is alously promoted. The in
cipient fires of civil war blaze up in
the angry demonstrations Of working
men," and the socialist and anarchist
come like birds OF prey to pick the
bones of the fallen csrcasses. At the
youth we hear less Of these things, in
the shape of extensive strikes but we
do hear OF disseminated farm hands
leaving certain paris OF the country.
From one neighborhood In North
Mississippi several hundred young
men are eaid to. have gone
westward during the present
winter. Parties from the same
place declsrs that they cannot get
sufficient wages TO secure enough OF
the plainest OF food, and clothing
sufficient to protect them from the
cold. These cannot all be "thriftless
and worthless" people. They say that
woman, for a days work at washing
clothes, ia given twenty five cents, or,
in seine cases, sent away with mess
OF second hand food to carry home,
with the reminder that 1t Ia "better
than she has at home" II there is any
possibility Of doing better, these labor
era ought TO seek better chance. But
the main object OF this letter Is to
speak of the rates OF house rent In
this city. Is it not the honest opin-
ion of every citizen who has any in
terest in the welfare Of the people who
have no homes and who depend upon
re ntiug, that the prices are .xceedIng-
ly usunous ard unjustP 1t is true that
on general principles the law OF sup
ply and demand regulate prices, and
every owner OF house for rent is will
ing 10 make all he eau from his prop
erty. But there must be another side.
A side OF equity; side Of reason ard
mercy. There is legal rate OF inter
est on money, but let the same be in
vested in cheap cottages, such as poor
men seek 10 live in, and the rent may
be put at almost sny extortionate
price. Two rooms and very small,
unceiled kitchen sre held at from
$40 to SIS per month, which the agent
co lects, II possible, in advance. The
writer hsd occasion to call upon an
agent to ask time for a po-r family,
who were behind with their rent, and
to compla mt ab)u the high rates,
he replied that they were indeed 100
hard upon the poor.
We can get plenty Of cheap advice
about taking care OF virtue and de-
cency ia the home. We hear much
of the Importance OF the poor trying
to sive money and buy homes (many
of them mighS indeed save much
money that lie wasted foolishly), but II
a family of five, six or seven persons
Vi h 10 rent house Of say four rooms
aud kitchen, l know OF no chance in
side the corporation under $lS or 500
per month. THE, in many cases, is
from one-haif to two thirds Of a mans
wages. Granted that there is a de-
maud which furnishes basis for the
high prices, and it should be granted
also that it is the cid story { avsrice
preying upon necessity.
.. A. INES